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Bryant's late bucket lifts Lakers past Pacers

Jan 5, 2015 - 6:53 AM Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Kobe Bryant's go-ahead bucket with 12.4 seconds remaining lifted the Los Angeles Lakers to an 88-87 win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night.

Bryant, who scored LA's final nine points, spun into the paint and nailed his one-handed push shot to put the Lakers in front. Roy Hibbert hit the top of the backboard on his desperation heave at the buzzer from the top of the key at the other end.

Bryant finished with 20 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals, while Nick Young netted 22 points off the bench for the Lakers, who have won two of their last three games.

"Kobe did what Kobe do," Young said.

The Lakers were 28-of-30 from the foul line.

"We gotta defend without fouling. You can't put great free throw shooters at the line," Indiana coach Frank Vogel said.

Roy Hibbert posted 12 points and 11 boards, C.J. Miles netted 19 points off the bench and Donald Sloan tallied 16 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for Indiana, which had a brief two-game winning streak snapped.

Bryant hit two free throws at the other end and swished a left corner 3- pointer on consecutive trips down the floor for an 84-82 Lakers advantage, LA's first in the second half.

Solomon Hill was left alone along the left wing and nailed the triple to put Indiana back in front, but Bryant responded with two foul shots for an 86-85 edge with 1:26 remaining.

Donald Sloan put in a leaner from inside the left elbow with the shot clock running down with 1:01 showing to swing the pendulum back in Indiana's favor.

The game was tied 13-13 in the first quarter before the Pacers closed the frame on a 15-2 surge. Miles nailed a trio of triples during the swing, which was capped on a Sloan layup for a 28-15 advantage.

Young hit a trey at the first half buzzer to pull the Lakers within 48-41 heading into the break.

Jeremy Lin sunk a pair of foul shots in the waning seconds of the third cut the hosts' deficit to 69-63 going into the fourth.

Carlos Boozer knocked down a jumper and Young potted a 3 to claw LA within 69-68 early in the fourth.

Game Notes

The Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak to the Pacers ... Indiana had won three of four on the road on the heels of an eight-game slide away from home ... Neither team shot higher than 38 percent from the field.